Metal door



J. PURCELL Oct. 27, 1931.

METAL nook Filed March 24, 1950 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 25 ef y@ J. PURCELL Oct. 27, 1931.

x esneets-sheet 2\ METAL DOOR Filed March 24, 1930 J. ITURCELL-n Oct. 27, 1931.

6 Sheets-Sheet 3 J. PURcELL 1,829,014

METAL DOOR Filed March 24, 1930 v/ slsnjets-sneet 4 Oct. 27, 1931.

Oct. 27, 1931. J, PURCELL 1,829,014

METAL noon Filed March 24, 195o e sheets-sheet 5 un n umlulmwmwl Cim Oct. 27, l93l. J. PWURCELL 1,829,014

METAL DOOR Filed March 24, 195o s sheets-sheet e (WL 1195595 55M Patented Oct, 27, V1931 UNITED STATES' II'HNV PURCELL, .KOF CHICGO,y ILLINOIS METAL BOOR Apphcaton -led lEhrlich-.'24, 1.980.: Seri-a1I No. 438,321. ,f

My invention relates to metal bottom doors or drop doors for railroad cars` dump trucks and the like, being particularly intended for use on gondola cars; and involves door con- Ii structions consisting of separately fabricated or cast vmetal frames and separate metal panels, either of sheet metal or `cast steel; the panels being adapted to be removably secured to the metal frame members so as la' to permit easy replacement Avwhen occasion requires without the necessity of a complete renewal of the entire vdoor structure. n

Anotherobject of my invention is to provide .a metal doorzstructure which may be le' more readily castor fabricated thanis ythe ease with a single piece cast door which Ais subject to warpingin the casting process; at the same time my invent-ion -obviating the necessity of carrying entire Adoor structures in stock.

The yobjects and advantages Vof my invention.y will vbe v readily ycomprehended from the detailed description 4of the accompanying drawings, w'herei-ny Figure 1 is :a plan view,.withfportions broken away, of Ione form -o-f =my impro-ved door.r f

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof.

F igure isa -de'tail sectional View taken substantially yon the line 3 3 :of Figure 1 looking in the direction :of the arrows.

Figure l is an end elevation `of the door illustrated in Figure 1,. as viewed from the righ-t hand end thereof.V f f Figure V5 is =a transverse :sectionalyiew taken on the offset line 5--5 of Figure 1as viewed by the arrows. A

-Figure 6 is an .enlarged detail sectional view taken on the line A6 6, of Figure 1, as 4Q viewed by thearrows. n

Figure 7 is a planview of part of a door, with portions broken a.way,^showing a modi-v lication. y f

Figure 8 is a detail sectional view,taken 4 5? on the oli'set line 8-8 of Figure 7 as viewed the arrows. n y Y. Figure 9 ijs a plan view of a portion of a door, parts being broken away, yshowing .another modified `form. i

Figure 10 is a `detailsectional view, taken on the offset line 1(1 10 of Figure 9, asviewed by the arrows. f

.Figure 11 is asimilar sectional view, las Fi ure l0, illustrating `another modification.

igure l2 vis a plan View' with portions broken away showing a further modification.

Figure 13 isa detail sectional view taken substantially on the line 13-13 of Figure 12, as viewed by the arrows. f

' igure 14 is a plan view'of another modified form. y'. 'i Y y"igure 1'5 is a detail sectional view, taken substantially von vthe line 15-15 of Figure 14, as viewed by the arrows. i

Figure 16 is a plan view of afurther modif cation. f

Figure `17 is a detail sectional view taken substantially ,on the line 17--17 of Figure 16,

as viewed by the arrows.y

- .My invention-relatesy more particularl to metal lbottom doors for gondola' cars wliich are hingedly secured yat one of the ends to the car underframe, for example'to the center sill of the underframe, so as to permit the doors to drop downwardly at .theirv free ends for the purpose of dumping t'hematerial; my improveddoors being especially intended for allsteel cars. n y y As my invention relates tothe door construction itself and not to the manner of hinging or Vlocking the doors'in place (as any of the present day methods of ,hinging and fas tening may be employed) illustration of the doors as applied to a car is not deemed necessary. y

ln the particular exemplification of my invention, as illustrated in the first six figures of the drawings,the metal frame of the door, which is preferably of cast steel, is vshown at 20. These frames are rectan ular in shape and in number in keeping with the size of the car and arranged ,on each side of the median line of the car. vThe-framelcomprises the inner end portion 2l provided with suitable` hingespin ree'eivinglugs 22.

The outer swinging end portion 23 is provided with lugs as at 24 with whichthe usual fastening levers or elements engage Vin supporting 4the doors to closed position, The

frame also involvesthey sideportions 25,V 25 1t.

which in this instance are of similar construction.k

The ends and sides all comprise the vertical body portions 26, see Figure 2, provided at top with the lateral flange portions 27; while the sides 25, are also shown provided .with additional reenforcing ribs as at 28.

The frame is also provided with the transversely disposed intersecting portions 429 and 30 cast integral with each other and with the respective end and side portions of the frame, as shown in Figure l, so that the upper port-ions occupy substantially the same horizontal plane as the end and side portions; and these intersecting portions 29 and 30, adjacent the top, are likewise provided with the laterally disposed flanges 27. The side portions 25, 25, at points intermediate of their ends, namely at points Ywhere the side portions are integral with the transverse portions 30, are slightly depressed, as shown at 31 in Figure 2, so as to expose the ends of the upper laterally extending portion or head i 32 of the transverse portion 30 arranged above the laterally disposed flanged portion 27 and thus provide for the laterally opening sockets 33, more clearly shown in Figure 6, which extend longitudinally from side to side ot the door frame on opposite sides of the transverse portion 30.

The door, as illustrated in Figure l, also involves the cast steel panels 340i length substantially equal to the length of the door frame from end to end and of any suitable width.

The door, illustrated in Figure 1, preferably involves our panels of similar construction which rest on the tops and flanges 27 of the frame and eachpanel, intermediate of its ends, is provided with a pair of opposingly disposed lugs cast or preferably formed integral with the panels; the lugs being arrangedron the lower side of the panels and at a suitable distance beneath the main portion so as to extend into the sockets 33 beneath the head portions 32 of the transverse portion 30 of the frame, see Figure 6, and thus lock or hold the panels in proper relation with the door frame and prevent movement thereof during operation of the doors. With this structure, the intermediate panels are slid into place from opposite sides of the door y frame, with their lugs 35 1n interengaging or sliding relation with the transversely disposed head portion 32 of the transverse frame portion 30; the intermediate panels being brought into abutting relation above the transverse frame portion 29; the outer panels 34 then being slid into place from the respective sides of the door. The outer panels are then preferably fastened in place against accidental edgewise movement by any suitable means, as for example by the use of'pins 36 which pass through registering holes formed in the outer side panels and the side portions 25 of the frame member. The pins 36 may be of a type which permit the Shanks, after insertion, to be bent laterally, as shown in the drawings, to prevent their loss.

The end portions 2l and 23 of the door frame lare preferably provided at their outer edges with upstanding ribs 37, which are adapted to extend substantially flush with the tops of the panels, as more clearly shown in Figure 3.

In Figures 7 and 8, I illustrate another form of my invention wherein the general frame construction is substantially identical with that previously described, involving the inner end portion 38 provided with the hinge pin receiving lugs 39 and the outer end portion 40 provided with the integral lugs 4l with which the usual fastening elements engage. In this construction, the transversely disposed portion 42 is dipped downwardly, as shown in Figure 8, so as to have the top of the other transverse portion 43 extend in a plane above the portion 42 and the top of the portion 43 is flanged laterally, as shown in Figure 8. In other words, the transverse portion 43 is substantially T-shape in cross-section. It will be also understood that the side portions of the door frame in this construction likewise dip beneath the plane of the main upper surface of the door frame in order to expose the ends of the intermediate portion of the transverse portion 43 so as to permit the door panels 44 to be slid into place from the sides of the door frame. Each of the panels employed with the structure shown in Figures 7 and 8 on its bottom face is provided with the opposingly disposed lugs 45, 45 spaced apart so as Vtoprovide a channel. into which the head portion of member 43 may seat; the outer ends of the panels resting on the upper flanged surfaces 27 ot the frame portions.

With this structure, like that previously described, an interlocking relation between the panels and door frame, at points intermediate of the ends of the panels, is provided; while the outer panels may be held against shifting movement by means of the pins 36 disposed through registering holes in the i panels and the adjacent door frame portions.

In Figures` 9 and l() I show another modified manner of providing the interengaging relation between the panels and the door frame which consists in forming the trans- Verse frame portion 46 with an under-cut socket 47 extending throughout its length from side to side ot the door frame for the purpose of receiving the bifurcated diverging lug 48 secured to or preferably cast integral with the bottoms of the door panels 49. As shown in Figure 10,. the diverging bifurcated portions of the lug 48 extend into the under-cut portion of socket 47 in the transverse portion 46 of the door Jframe and IUC lili

thus provide an interlocking relation. The

panels 49, like those previously described,

are inserted from either side of the door frame by havingthebifurcated diverging lugs 48 entering the end yof the undercut socket 47. The door may be provided with any suitable number of panels successively slid into place, with the panels adjacent the outer sides then locked against accidental movement by the pins 36y or other suitable means.

In Figure 11, I show a sectional view of another modified method of interlocking the panels 50 with the transverse portion of the frame, namely the portion which extends from side to side.

This transverse portion 5l is substantially cylindrical to provide a substantially circular socket 52 which is open at the top in theV form of a 'slot disposed throughout the length of the transverse door frame portion 51. Each panel 50 on its under face is provided with a spherical or rounded rib 53 which depends from the panel by means of the narrow neck portion 54. The enlargedy head portion 53, as shown, is of larger diameter than the transverse dimension of the slot 55 so that an `interlocking relation between the panels` and the frame is provided; the panels being slid-into place from either side of the frame; the panels resting on the frame portions and, like in previously described constructions, are preferably held against accidental shifting by pins 36.

In Figures 12 and 13 a still further modification is shown wherein the interengaging relation between the panels 56 and the frame is obtained at the ends of the panels. In this form, the end portions 57, 58of the frame are provided with the overhanging yor in turned flanges 59 beneath which the ends of the panels 56 are slid; the panels beingim troduced edgewise from the sides of the door as in the previously described constructions; and the outer side panels may be vlocked in place, as by means of pins 36 which pass' through registering holes in the panels and frame side portions. i

Figures 14k and 15 show a further modification wherein a numberfof transverse portions 60, 60, extend from side to side and unite at intermediate points with the longitudinally extending portion 61; y

The transverse portions 6() are each formed rwith a substantially T-shaped head 62, preferably integral With the upper faces of the portions and therefore disposed above the plane of the main body of the portions 60, as more clearly shown in Figure 15.

y The end portions of the frame are also provided with overhanging flanges or lips 63. The panels 64 are inserted into place from either side of the door frame, with the longi-y tudinal edges of they panels 64 sliding beneath the overhanging Bange 63 at either end p ymediate panel is slid endwise beneath the 'overhanging portions of the T-shaped heads 62. The ends of the panels may be locked in place by` means of the pins 36 inserted through registering holes'in the panels and the side rportions of the door frame.

, `In Figures 16 and 17, I show a'door struction employing corrugated panels V65.

In this construction the frame sideportions 66, 66 are keach provided with an overhanging flange 67; while the longitudinal portion 68, which extends from end to end of the frame,

kis providedwith a T-shaped rib 69 extending throughout the length of the portion 68. yThe n panels are inserted endwise into place from the ends of the door; the corrugatons being made lengthwise of the panels so as not to interfere with the f1ee..dunipi11g of thematerial.. The panelsf65 at the -lends' are shown held in place Aby means of the'pins 36. i

l Thevarious panels employed in the constructions shown in Figures 1,7, 9 andlll are preferably cast steel; while Vthe panels of the Constructions shown in Figures 12, 14 and 16 may be either sheet or cast steel'plates; but

all constructions consist of separate frame members and panel members, withfthe panel members arranged in interengaging or inter-, locking relation with Athe frame members`,per mitting, however, the ready renewal of either element of a door to be made without necessity for renewal vof the entire door, thus enabling repairs to be more easily made, while at the saine time obviating the necessity of carrying entire vdoors in stock as has heretofore" been the case.

vI have shown various forms of my inventionvwhich I believe to be the simplest emf bodiments thereof and have described `the same in terms employed 4merely as terms of description and notas terms of limitation, as structural modifications are possible and may be made Without', "however, departing from` the spirit of my invention.

' klWhat I claim is:

1. Metal doors of the character ydescribed comprising frame members describing the f general contour of the doors; and separate` panel members adapted to rest on the frame members; the frame members and the panel members being provided with interengaging portions whereby the panel members are endwisely slid into place; and means whereby the panel members are locked in position.

2. Metal doors of the character described comprising frame members and separate panel members; the frame members having longitudinally extending open-ended grooves adapted to receive portions of the panels; the panels being 'insertible into place yf'romthe ends of said grooves. Y

3. Metal doors, of the character described comprising integral metallic frame members,

nov

and separate metallic panel members; the frame members and the panel members having integral portions disposed toward opposite ends of the doors and adapted to provide interengaging relation when the panel members are slid edgewisely along the upper surface of the frame members.-

4:. Metal doors of the character described comprising metallic skeleton frame members and metallic panel members; the frame members being provided with portions adapted to receive correlated protruding portions on thevpanel members; said frame member portions at opposite ends being formed to permit the panel member to be edgewisely slid into holding engagement therewith from opposite ends of the frame members.

5. Metallic doors of the character described comprising metallic skeleton frame members and metallic panel members; the frame members at intermediate portions and extending from side to side and the panel members throughout their widths being provided with matching surfaces adapted to be moved edgewisely into interlocking engagement whereby the panel members are held in place.

6. Metallic doors of the character described comprising metallic frame members provided with transversely disposed intermediate portions, saidl portions being provided `with grooves extending lengthwise of the portions and open at the ends thereof; and panel menibers providedwith portions insertible edgewisely into said grooves whereby interlocking relation between the rameineinbers and the panel members is provided. Y

7. Metal doors of the character described comprising skeleton frame 'members the transverse intermediate portions being provided with longitudinal grooves opeii at the ends of said transverse portions; and metallic panels provided on their lower faces with Y protruding depending portions insertible at the ends of said grooves as the panels are slid Hush with the upper face of the frame members whereby interlocking relation between the frame members and the panel members is provided.

JOHN PUR-CELL. 

